Go back to the time when the best form of entertainment was some guy risking his life in a tent.
From the mid-1800s all the way up to the 1950s, circuses were a favorite form of entertainment for audiences across America and Europe. For many, a big top tent was the only place to see extravagant performances, exotic animals and dangerous feats that were previously thought impossible. It was only with the rise of movies that circuses lost their top spot as the world’s favorite pastime.
Enjoy some vintage moments from some of the greatest shows on Earth before the big tent collapsed.
1
Lou Dufour Circus Elephant Show
Circa 1930s
2
A clown acts out a routine with another circus performer dressed in a lion suit
Circa 1940s
3
Trainer Walter McClain works with his elephants at the Ringling Circus
Sarasota, Florida 1940
4
An elephant is hoisted with pulleys off a ship and onto the dock below
Circa 1930s
5
Portrait of Circus Performers
Circa 1930
6
A trainer works with a camel at a circus
Slovenia, 1957
8
Clown Emmett Kelly Tramp
1940s
9
Alzanas Highwire performers
Ringling Circus, 1940s
10
Strongman circus performer Alexander Marshal lifts two women holding onto a steel pull gripped in his teeth
Circa 1930s
11
Coles Bros. Circus Circa
1920s
12
Johnny J. Jones Oriental and European Circus
1932
13
Lou Dufour Circus Lion and Tiger Show
Circa 1930s
14
High wire artistes The Wallendas performing death defying feats for crowds
Olympia Circus in London
15
Circus artist Fred Lony of Latvia balancing 22 chairs, each weighing nine pounds, between his teeth
Tom Arnold's Circus, Harringay, London
16
The Ghezzis, a comedy acrobatic team, perform at the Bertram Mills Circus at Olympia, London
18th December 1959
17
An elephant from Earl's Court Circus with a man in its mouth
Circa 1930s
18
Under the spotlight in a circus ring two elephants balance on their hind legs
Circa 1930s
19
The Flying Wallendas perfect their tightrope walking routine
1944
20
A female lion tamer works with a group of lions from the Bertram Mills Touring Circus
Circa 1930s
21
The area directly behind the circus tent where performers prepared for and staged their entrances through the “back door” came to be known as the “backyard"
1928
22
Three women brave enough to be part of the show work with Trainer Walter McClain and his elephants
1940
23
The crew of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus works to raise the big tent for the final show of the season
Sarasota, Florida. 1945
24
Children gather around to look at a circus lion housed in its cage before the start of the show
Circa 1930s
25
A trainer works with a leopard to perform tricks for circus audiences
1906
26
Clowns Albert "Flo" White, left, and Gene Lewis from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus pose for the camera
Sarasota, Florida, 1945
27
The Ringling Bros ringmaster preparing the tent
Circa early 1900s
28
A woman brushes the teeth of a circus hippo while on a break
Berlin, 1921
29
Olga the lion tamer
Circa 1930s
30
A brave daredevil in the spotlight walks the tightrope for an audience of circus attendees
Circa early 1900s
31
Family members of the Otaris aerial troupe balance upside down on a high-wire
Sarasota, Florida. 1930
32
Ringling Brothers Parade, New York City
Circa 1920s
33
Contortionist Salm the "elastic wonder of the world" sits atop a flower vase
Circa early 1900s
34
Two of Barnum & Bailey's most popular performers, circus giant George Anger and Pygmie Klik-Ko
1918
35
A clown from Hanneford's Canadian Circus shows off his "big pants."
1910
